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GIJoeCon 2018 has come and gone and I’m still playing catch-up posting the convention coverage. The JBL staff (IE Fred) drove to the con this year and apparently making the solo 8.5 hour drive back in 9.5 hours wasn’t the best idea in the world. Maybe it’s true what Indiana Jones said:

It’s not the years… it’s the mileage…

Regardless, I managed to post a few LIVE videos over on JBL’s Facebook page with a quick look at the various souvenir items. I’ve archived them below for easy viewing. In reverse order, these videos cover the following:

GIJoeCon 2018 is one for the history books. The last official Joe Con is over with the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club conducting one last Club Roundtable panel on Sunday June 24, 2018. However, the Club didn’t go out with a whimper but instead surprised fans not only with some retrospective slide shows and musings about what the past 22 years of conventions have meant to them and the community but also with a final slate of exclusive products set to drop in the coming weeks.

Note: we have no information on pricing, release date, or even overall availability. However, if the sellout of the Dreadnok 4WD with Heartwrencher was any indication, it’s best to pre-order these as soon as possible after the orders go live.

It looks like some GIJoeCon 2018 figures have some unplanned battle scars…

At last night’s Golden Ticket package pickup, Brian Savage had to make an announcement regarding a quality control issue that was discovered in the sets that arrived in Chattanooga. It would appear that the paint app for Major Bludd’s moustache was omitted during production. It was present on the Club’s samples but lacking in the final product. However, there’s more…

It would seem that some of the Laser Viper’s are also missing the paint apps on one of their eyes. (Maybe they looked into the laser when they shouldn’t have?) The figure I examined last night appeared to be fine but this is a pretty widespread issue.

Fear not: the Club is going to make this right for those who purchased a convention set. At some point in the future, new heads will be sent out for both Major Bludd and the Laser Vipers to those who purchased them directly through the Club. For those of you who are purchasing the figures on eBay or through a third party, be aware that this issue exists and ask your seller if they’re willing to also provide you with the replacement heads.

Now if only they’d fix that stupid right arm on Major Bludd…

Lastly, until I can get my set in hand tonight, here’s a few quick pics I shot on the con floor last night.

GIJoeCon 2018 is almost officially here but last night was the Golden Ticket package pickup! This means that Golden Ticket Holders were able to not only acquire their convention sets one night early (more on this later) but they were also able to pick up their 2018 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention comic books– which included the following souvenir list:

The GIJoeCon 2018 previews are nearly complete with a look at the Python Patrol Major Bludd

PYTHON PATROL INFANTRY COMMANDER:
MAJOR BLUDD

– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure.
– Modern Era Update of Character based on 2003 design.
– Features NEW Head Sculpt with removable helmet.
– Includes removable grenade harness with pistol,
handgun with rocket, backpack with rockets x 3,
sonic bazooka, and Cobra Logo Stand.

Hmm… I find myself conflicted on this one.

On one hand, the overall deco looks fantastic! It’s an excellent recreation of the 2003 six-pack Major Bludd! (Those colors are just ridiculously engaging.) I like the Cobra Shock Trooper legs and the Retaliation Cobra Trooper harness and torso look great together! Heck, I even like the backpack choice. I’d say that 85% of this figure is pure win. Continue reading →

Sometimes, figure reveals are exactly what you expected them to be. Other times, they’re BETTER than expected!

I don’t think anyone out there presumed that the Python Patrol Laser Viper would be anything more than a repaint of 2017’s GIJoeCon Laser Viper. It was a solid build, based on a concept case reveal from 2012, and it seemed to be a hit with the fan base. Just toss on some of that sexy 2003 Python Patrol deco and the Club would be good-to-go, right? Continue reading →

Say what you want about the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club but they certainly stick close to the vintage designs. In this case, the recipe for the convention exclusive figure is simple: take the 25th Anniversary Mutt build and apply the 1989 Slaughter’s Marauders version color scheme. Some might criticize this as not being different enough from the 25th release in terms of parts but it is in keeping with the spirit of this set so far. After all, Footloose was a repaint of his previous Club release in the team deco. Continue reading →